Martin Scorsese is a racist. Why do we put up with it?

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Permalink Reply by sol aka "Cap'n Hates-A-Lot!" on June 23, 2009 at 10:16am

Everything you wrote is valid, if it wasn't for the fact that Scorsese had made a career of promoting racist characters.

1 or 2 films and I wouldn't have a problem with it, but it's been over 40 years of this shit. Forty Years! MDS. Come on man! At the Very Least hes "socially irresponsible" and completely unconcerned with the plight and struggle of minorities in this country. Keep in mind we're talking about a guy who was making movies when the civil rights movement was at it's peak. He Must know how his movies effect certain people and he just doesn't care.

The Departed was originally an "Asian" film and he made a point of "belittling" them in his version of the movie. Not "Once" have I heard him thank or give acknowledgment to the people who invented the story.

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Permalink Reply by MDS on June 23, 2009 at 11:39am

And I don't see it in the director himself. I see it in his Mobster characters sure, but like I said that's because there is a historical reference of mobsters HAVING racial hatred towards other groups.

But, the same guy that did the Michael Jackson "Bad" video,
Period piece Age of Innocence,

As well as the biography of the Dali Lama Kundun?

I see it in his characters, and I'll grant you that one. But I don't see it in the director HIMSELF.

Even if he DID copy full on scenes out of the Asian version, that doesn't mean he meant to do it as an insult. Maybe, he thought THEIR way of filming a scene was BETTER than what he had originally thought of doing? Maybe, after you look into it, you'll see that it's Warner Brothers that is responsible for this version NOT Scorsese..... Warner Brothers bought the remake rights to the film (Infernal Affairs) for US$1.75 million in 2003. I don't know, maybe we should also say that Brad Pitt is a racist since he continued to produce the film under his (and his then wife Jennifer Aniston's) production company, Plan B. while Pitt was working on Babel?

Quotes in the movie Departed?

Fuckin' delivering cannolis or something? -- Clearly an Italian culture slur.

Who let this IRA motherfucker in my bar? -- Clearly an IRISH culture slur.

The Knights of Columbus were real head-breakers; true guineas. They took over their piece of the city. Twenty years after an Irishman couldn't get a fucking job, we had the presidency. May he rest in peace. That's what the niggers don't realize. If I got one thing against the black chappies, it's this - no one gives it to you. You have to take it. -- Wow, 2 in one... Italian and African culture slurs.

Fuck you, fuckin' queers. Firemen gettin' pussy for the first time in the history of fire or pussy. Hey go save a kitten in a tree, you fucking homos. --- Not sure if he's trying to insult Firemen, or Homosexuals.

(to a priest) You recall our chat? Little boys. Sucking on their peckers, etc... and so forth. I am as God made me. Is that your rationale? May I remind you - in this archdiocese, God don't run the bingo. --- Clearly there is something wrong with Scorsese's views on Catholics.

If we're not gonna make it, it's gotta be you that gets out, cause I'm not capable. I'm fucking Irish, I'll deal with something being wrong for the rest of my life. --- Since clearly Scorsese feels that Irish people are only happy if things are wrong.

You got a nice suit at home or do you like coming to work everyday dressed like you're goin' to invade Poland? --- Hey, let's go ahead and add a Nazi reference in for fun.

If these chinks wanna nuke Taiwan anytime in this century, they better shape up and show me $1 million dollars! What we generally do - in this country - is one guy brings the items, and the other guy pays him. "No tickee, no laundry"! . --- Wow, look... it is an Asian slur.



The point is, personally that I think it's a shame that people just ASSUME that a director's subject matter is a reflection of his own personal views. In truth, none of us really knows Scorsese personally enough to determine if he is or isn't a racist. But, I'll give him the benefit of doubt, saying that NO, he isn't a racist person. But, in his professional career of being a director, he has filmed several characters who are racist because it gives that character more depth for the actor to work with, and gives us (The viewers) a reason to hate or love those characters richness and depth that is displayed on screen.

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Permalink Reply by Deadly Dr. Jay on June 23, 2009 at 11:54am

Why should he give them credit for creating the story?! How often do remakes give the original story credit for anything? And if you are going to complain abt that, don't blame Scorsese blame William Monaghan who wrote the screenplay. He took the story and changed it to fit the Irish in South Boston.

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Permalink Reply by Deadly Dr. Jay on June 23, 2009 at 11:59am

I can't continue to read anything on this thread...sorry but this is really ridiculous. And like he sad latter down in the thread abt Spike Lee...Spike Lee IS THE BIGGEST RACIST! AND I ONLY LIKED 2 MOVIES OF HIS WHICH WAS X and INSIDE MAN...the rest are and always will be shit

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Permalink Reply by Kizmania on June 23, 2009 at 7:03pm

Do the Right thing is awesome.... So is white men can't jump

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Permalink Reply by Moxie on June 23, 2009 at 9:45am

QT does it because he is a white boy trying to be hip/cool, he’s not a racist he’s just an idiot.
...I do like his movie by the way, despite the gratuitous use of the n-word

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Permalink Reply by sol aka "Cap'n Hates-A-Lot!" on June 23, 2009 at 9:55am

You're smarter than this MDS, much smarter. Quintin Tarentino made a movie "staring" a black woman( Jackie Brown )in a non-stereotypical role.

Even though in pulp fiction QT used the "n" word and variations of it it wasn't always used to demean a race.

And MOST importantly his film portfolio doesn't boast a career of portraying racist characters and racially fueled violent acts.

I don't have a problem with characters who are racist. I have a problem with people who make a career out of "spot-lighting" those characters.

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Permalink Reply by sol aka "Cap'n Hates-A-Lot!" on June 23, 2009 at 11:13am

Yes.

I think Spike Lee tries to level the playing field, so to speak.

But I also think he takes it too far.

If you called him a racist I might disagree, but I'd understand why you did.

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Permalink Reply by MDS on June 23, 2009 at 11:40am

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Permalink Reply by MDS on June 23, 2009 at 11:48am

Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, Reservoir Dogs, Kill Bill 1, Kill Bill 2, Death Proof --- as a director EACH of these have both negative racial comments by characters, OR racial stereotypes.
Or did we simply forget the loaded stereotypes in this scene once the fighting started?

As a writer?
Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, Natural Born Killers, True Romance, From Dusk to Dawn, Kill Bill 1 and 2, Death Proof..... it goes on and on that in each of his movies there are both NEGATIVE racial slurs AND NEGATIVE racial stereotypes.
How loaded with "wrongs" is this scene from Dusk to Dawn?

Oh, well CLEARLY the Hispanic population can't go anywhere without Stealing from others, drinking beer or other alcohol AND carrying a gun in public.

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Permalink Reply by sol aka "Cap'n Hates-A-Lot!" on June 23, 2009 at 12:47pm

I think you're as sharp as a tack MDS, no bullshit or sarcasm intended.

I just have one question. In what film did Martin Scorsese show a minority( non-Caucasian American )in a "favorable" non-stereotypical role?

MJ is a black man trying to be white.

As far as Kundun is concerned, lets keep it here in the States.

I haven't seen Age of Innocence and even though I didn't see any minorities in the cast, if you think it will give me a new perceptive on this topic( and the movie itself doesn't suck )then I'll watch it.
Scouts honor.

The QT stereotype thing is a joke , right?

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Permalink Reply by Q on June 23, 2009 at 12:52pm

Okay, dude, using the frickin Yakuza as your example is just plain pathetic. They're an ethic-based crime organization. Of course you'll find racial bigotry in there. From the looks of it, you've never met up-close someone from a crime organization.

As for the sex-machine....once again, you're acting like a PETA mom. If that was a white dude, you'd get offended. If that was a black dude, you'd get edgy. If that was a Vietnamese guy, you'd get pissed off.

Really. So much for "ignoring him", MDS. You're a really bad liar, man...

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